A while back I posted some pics of my very first casting attempt with pewter just for fun. I finally got my hands on some COWW (big thanks to Hotrod99) and tried some casting today with 5 different molds. Alloy was COWW with (edit .5% vs 1%) 1% pewter/tin added. Casting temps were 700 and 725, preheated molds on a hotplate to about 350.
Initially I had lots of problems with really wrinkled bullets. Molds were all dual cavity, cast iron and Lee aluminum. I am pretty certain my wrinkled bullets were/are the result of insufficient cleaning/removal of various corrosion preventatives (Birchwood-Casey Barricade or mineral oil). I live on a saltwater marsh and my non-conditioned garage is a haven for rust. I thought if I cast enough times the wrinkled bullets would eventually go away. To some degree they did, but even after 20 cycles there was still some signs of wrinkling.
I am a bit stumped on mold maintenance and storage. If after use you coat to protect your molds, when you prepare to use them it seems like you will have to use such vigorous cleaning methods that any/all careful application of lube at critical points is lost. Is that the process, clean thoroughly and then reapply lube on the alignment pins and etc each time? It was suggested that I just melt a little beeswax into/on the mold while still hot and then let it cool, but won't solvents still have to be used after the beeswax is melted off to prevent wrinkled bullets?
The probability of mold contamination aside, how do these look and what should I be doing differently? Higher temps, a bit more tin, or.....?